The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-01-20
From the Jacksonville Herald a. ~
why we Oppdae NM.

-
why we Oppdse Wtn.
There are a few ver-coa smva,ive people in
Jacksonville who d. not spprove OR oeensional
arraignment of the editor of the TIM Uaioa
before the bar Of publc opinion. They Stsrihate
every Journalists cansuro "a professlouua envy,
and personal bitterness, AMI now and then one
noes so far a. to say that Mr. Joaes is ii much
Dersecuted man.
occasional exposures of our eldest contemporary
are impersonal, and made purely In abe intefess
of society," Il is the plain and imperative duty
of an honest Newspaper 10 detand The righi, and
to rebuke wrong and injustice, and selfish false
hood whichever 1t appears
The truth Is, the editor Of the Times Union is
not q good man, nor O generous man, nor Find,
nor magnaninous nor just-snd a true Journal
ist ought to Ike all of these. He is not fit to he
journalist, because passion, and prejudice. and
spite, and avarice and s"lfshness sway his pen,
and rule his impulses and judgment The pub
lie may answer whether this summary of him Is
Justly sustained by his career
Take an instance in point. There Ia General
Bentley, a gentleman, we'll and hOuorably known
in Florida before MIR. Jones ever thought OF COM
ing here to educate our press" and "lead our
people" He occupies high position in great
corporation, whose coming here was esteemed, a
beneicaton 10 The State. The e lit'r OF the
Times Union has entertained and EXPRESSED q
high regar,i for him. A disagreement upon
some business matter arises between them. 1t
Is alleged by some that General Bcntley's sin
was in the failure to award job printing on de-
mand, and by others that he had failed e, ar
range such mail schedules as suited the TINES
Unions cnnvcniences. Al any rate this differ
ence arouses in the mind OF a man who claims
to be a grea j urnalis', The Wild desire u de-
stroy character and To mutiiate reputation.
Among multitude of things said to this end We
recall tie following:
"He Bentley and his associates arc detested
by the other railway officials and hated by the pee
ple whose claims and protests they tr At With dis
| dan. There rs not a town In the State
reached by the j T. X. W. Ry.. in which II is
not abhorred aud the drummers 20 out of their
wy to prevent passenger from taking it's trains.
| This is the allegation, and we think it will be
conceded that it is c,ucheh in strong and pos
| tive words. The mr. ,.list who wrote them
| ought to have been very certain tn It he was
writing the exac, truth. Otherwise he fails tn
appreciate the noble respunsib lily "f his calling
| Now what has been d, ~ .nsirIrd? From
| jacksonville to Ttusyillp, every pajj"r vocing
| the sentiments of its people has sternv rppn'lin-
| ted this charge. Every official utterance has de-
| MED il, and citizens, speaking over their sigma
lures in black and white, have stamped the as
| sertiOn as an absolute falsehOnd. There are on
| file in General Bentey's office scores Of letter ,
| from his fellow officials of the different railroad
| linz d.nouncing The assertion with refrrcrc,. TO
| therSe yes. II is us plain as da Wight hat This
| broad and damaging assertion was made in pas
sion and venom for the purpose OF injury, with
| out one scruple rs to truth and honor and the
facts And The man who made it claims 10 b, a
| great journalist
| Now, the people Of Jacksonville ought to re-
| alize why an honest newspaper feels impellel
by the very resp sibiiy OF its vocation. 10 ex
| pose and condemn such methods and such man.
| This incident IS fair illustration of his whole
| policy. Yield to him. cajole him, play The tOady
| as many do. and he will praise you though you
| be as black as sin. But stand up in your honest
ma;.hocl, su-tain your Individuality, maintain
| your sincere conv'ctions uiaod your personal
interests ard if they cross his views, or antago-
| nZe his INTERESTS he Will detame and blacken
and SANDER you wiln ,ut scfuplc or truth, out OF
| sheer malice Il. eSs yOu e - iDriuate as 10
| hold r"pute as man of courage with stern
belief in the doctrine OF responsibility" This
will protect you nothing ere in truth or reason
| for be dodge, III Inns oc I'LL with the skill
| and malice of he Nr0', 81 mai.
| We acknowledge The Tines Union as an excel
lent newspaper. and confess its ability to 10
| good in material issues at Certain times but the
| great question t'r this people, is whether any
| good thing can aone for III" policy Of mimi II
ton AMI viudic'ive SANDER with which this
! newspaper pur>u"s all those whom it (lares at
tack for their indepen ence and selfrespcct.
| Ii is n se!vl.r thing ior whoie people TO be
intmdltei an abused by single newspaper
| The people of jacksonville are beginning To be
| called servilr and spritless people on this ac-
! count. l. is Time 10 leacu This aggressive insD-
lence Lesson The pcHp'e support him. Lei
| the people show him MS dependence Let them
| Withdraw their patronage until he comes to his
Senses and 10 a rta Zat,0n Of that respect which
| he Is due 10 the people VINO iced him. and to
| the sentiments of ju> tire and truth, and kind
| ness which they che isl.
For ourselves, We are far beyond the reach OF
his malice. but VT dcplofe with l,rofoundest re-
| greet, his ms thods which are lowering the stand
ard of true Journalism, and sappng day by day
it's great and benefceut influence in the world.